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Imagine scrolling through your feed, mindlessly sifting through photos and Reels, then suddenly your attention is overtaken by the warm, luxurious, and fantastical beauty of traditional, Southeast Asian garments and patterns. This is the experience I had when a reel from content creator, Anthony Gomes, popped into my Instagram feed in early 2021. Since then, I have not only become a fan of his eye for creative production but I have also admired his ability to transport me to the lush lakes and glamorous gardens of Sylhet, Bangladesh, all while sitting in the comfort of my home. Now my usual work attire is a palate of neutral colors and earth tones, but Anthony has managed to convince me that I need to show up to my next Zoom meeting adorned in a vibrantly colored saree and my finest gold jewelry. He is what I would consider a whole vibe.

Meet Anthony Orvin Gomes

Anthony Gomes (pronounced like HOMES with a G) is a North Carolina-based, South Asian content creator with over 100,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok—68.9k and 40.6k, respectively. With a growing community and clear creative vision, he is poised to be one of the most influential creators in the creator economy, so much so that Pinterest, the official social media platform for inspiration, has already tapped him for various partnerships. The brand highlighted Anthony and several other influencers for the launch of their Creators Crushing It series which showcases how creators can leverage Pinterest to build community, create content, and inspire their audiences. Last year, he was also selected by the brand to speak at their second-annual Pinterest Creator’s Festival and will be the first South Asian creator to represent Pinterest at the VidCon stage in Anaheim, California this June.

“Fashion is an outlet of my self-expression and a medium to grow as an artist and visionary while challenging societal boundaries. It’s a way for me to inspire my fellow South Asian creatives who feel underrepresented in the global media,” says Anthony.

It’s clear that Anthony has built a brand for himself based on authenticity, a love for his culture, and a passion for visual storytelling, especially through the medium of fashion. Dubbed Indo-Western style, he has cultivated his own approach to fashion by styling clothing traditionally worn by women in Southeast Asian countries, like Banarasi silks, sarees, and ornate jewelry, and turning it into Desi menswear.

A Career In Content Creation

Prior to becoming a full-time creator, Anthony was navigating his professional career as a financial analyst at an information services firm. As was the case for many creators-in-the-making, the pandemic was the catalyst that pushed him to leave his nine-to-five and pursue content creation full-time. 

“As I posted more consistently and grew an audience within my social platforms, more opportunities and success followed,” he shares.

The aforementioned opportunities? Collaborations with major brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills, Instagram, and a feature in India’s No. 1 Fashion Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar India. In its April-May 2021 issue, Harper’s ​highlighted creatives for their series, Return To The Roots, which they described as “an ode to authenticity and self-love.” Influential individuals from the Southeast Asian community were selected to share the evolution of their personal style through the art of photography. In this collaboration, Anthony led the set design, creative direction, and photography, and designed a layered kurta look exclusively for the mag. In an excerpt from the feature, he shared more of his creative process and the connection it has to his heritage. 

“​​My family moved to the US from Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2006. Growing up [in the United States], I felt that I never had enough room in my closet for both my traditional wear and my everyday, western outfits. This helped me get creative and allowed me to combine both the aesthetics together. I often wear simple kurtas as tops by tucking them into a pair of jeans or slacks. I drape shawls with my everyday looks and often pair my outfits with juttis as statement footwear. People love seeing the unique, traditional pieces styled with western outfits. My heritage serves as a canvas for this fusion of style and culture in my daily life. I look up to designers like Sabyasachi, Abhinav Mishra, and Manish Malhotra because their works tell a story and create a fantasy. As a visual storyteller, I study their photoshoots and intricate outfits to create royal and elegant looks,” he stated.

From The Desk of The Creator

While he certainly has established his niche, Anthony does not limit himself in the content that he shares across his social media channels. He is a poet, dancer, and artist—oftentimes painting on canvas in addition to hand-painting many of the garments that he later styles and captures. He is the living embodiment of creativity without bounds.

Between brand partnerships, press features, and an established presence on social media, Anthony has gained incomparable expertise that supports his continued success as a creator. As a creative who has had several partnerships, I wanted to find out his point of view on how brands and content creators can work better together: 

1. What advice do you have for brands that are wanting to partner with creators or influencers? 

A large following isn't everything! Please look into creators who create quality content rather than just focusing on creators with large followings. Find the creators who are providing value, regardless of their follower count.

2. What advice do you have for creators or influencers that are wanting to partner with brands? 

First of all, have a clear and concise pitch for yourself and why you would be the perfect fit to collaborate with them. Secondly, direct message or email the brands with your pitch. The brands will typically respond and get back to you. Finally, use their products and tag them when using them to get their attention.

3. Which platforms do you feel are the best for creators? 

Right now, I am loving Pinterest because it is such a hidden gem and they have a wonderful creator rewards program where creators can easily monetize their content. Also, Instagram is wonderful especially when it comes to Reels because you can really grow your audience quickly. Lastly, Tiktok—for its relatability. 

4. How can creators stand out on these platforms?

Find your niche but more importantly think about how you can add value to your audience. You can follow the trends but do them with your own unique twist. This will help you stand out and create a community.

Community is everything and Anthony Gomes is no stranger to it. Whether you’re South Asian, a fan of men’s fashion, and/or just someone that can appreciate high-quality visuals, the imaginative world of “Desi Royalcore” that he has defined is sure to be a source of creative inspiration and cultural connection.

​​Where To Find Anthony

If you’d like to follow Anthony and see more of his content, click the links below.

@antorvingomes on Instagram

@anthonygomes999 on TikTok

@antorvingomes on Pinterest